Pickled in Love by Gina N. Brown

“Jenn’s breath shortened into sharp puffs, and her heart pumped so fast it could keep the beat with an ABBA song. Her watch pinged to congratulate her on achieving her maximum target heart rate, yet she was standing still.”

Although I don’t like to admit it, I am a woman of a certain age, and I can’t stress how much I enjoyed reading this sweet, late-in-life, contemporary rom-com. It was refreshing to read a romance with characters my age and not the ages of my nieces and nephews.

“Can two hesitant fifty-somethings get out of their own way to fall in love?“

Jenn Morrison is a professional home organizer and a cautious divorcee, feeling worn down with the increasing difficulties of dating and forming a relationship later in life. Mark Russell is a slightly out-of-shape, retired Gym Teacher, widower, and grandfather. After a disastrous and misunderstood first meeting, Mark visits Jenn’s office to apologize for his rudeness. While there, he spies a pickleball paddle. In a how-hard-can-it-be, cocky, I’m-a-retired-gym-teacher-and-coach moment, Mark challenges Jenn to a game he has never before played and gets pickled. What follows is a fun-filled, bumpy road to a happily-ever-after, full of lively banter, a slow motorized recliner, and all the aches and pains of forming a relationship later in life.

“My track record is terrible. It’s like I keep getting pickled in love.”
“Translation for us non-pickleball players?” asked Maggie.
“In pickleball, when you beat somebody eleven to zero, you’ve pickled them. And that’s what it feels like for me these days when it comes to love. Starts with a sizzle and ends with a fizzle. Eleven to zero.”

For Gina N. Brown’s first attempt at a romantic comedy, I found it successfully balanced sweet romance vibes with the oftentimes humorous situations that mature people often face in the dating game. With a narrowing pool of eligible candidates for later-in-life dating and meddlesome kids creating roadblocks, I found the story original and engaging. It is a must-read for people of all ages who like lighthearted romances, books with a sense of humour, and those who love pickleball.

I enjoyed that it was set in Halifax, across the bridge from where I live. It was inspiring to read about familiar landmarks such as the Jumping Bean Café on Agricola Street and the Canada Games Centre. I also liked the added fun book club questions at the end of the book. I believe Pickled in Love will be a much sought-after book for many book clubs this winter.

“The shelves and files on your desk are color-coded and stacked neatly. Even your pen holder is in order. A little OCD, are you?”

She handed him a mug. “I prefer CDO. Then it’s alphabetized.”

Editor’s note: Sue Slade’s 2024 review of Gina N. Brown’s book The Sugar Bowl Feud can be found here.

Gina N. Brown has written three novels: Pickled In Love (2025), The Sugar Bowl Feud (2024), reviewed by TMR, and Lucy McGee’s Moment of Truth (2021). In addition, she has written freelance articles for newspapers, magazines, and on digital platforms.
After a lengthy marketing career working in music, film, advertising, special events, and museums, she founded NovaHeart Media in 2019, an independent publishing platform. She lives in Halifax, Nova Scotia, where she swims, skates, cycles, and plays pickleball. Visit novaheartmedia.com.

Publisher: NovaHeart Media (September 29th, 2025)
Paperback: 295 pp
ISBN: 9781999574185

Sue Slade

Sue Slade has a Bachelor of Child Study from Mount St. Vincent University in Halifax. After working with children and adults with special needs, she now has her midlife dream job of working with books. Sue manages an independent, locally owned bookstore, Dartmouth Book Exchange. Through her charismatic sharing centred around books and community, Sue has created an engaging cornerstone for authors, customers, and book lovers of all ages. Sue is an avid reader and her reviews cross over many genres.